Students are introduced to the practice of "Ekphrasis" to practice "reading" an image/photograph.

In his article "Reading Between the Lines of Book 12," Kevin Terraciano explains that "'reading between the lines' refers to the act of looking for or discovering meaning that is hidden or implied rather than explicitly stated" (45). By comparing the parallel columns of Spanish- and Nahuatl-language texts and the images, he sheds light on the differing perspectives conveyed in the manuscript and concludes that "reading between the lines of Book 12 reveals how Nahua writer and artists succeeded in telling their side of the story in their own words and images" (60).
This Lab Activity will prepare you for the in-class workshop on 2/25 in which we will begin to work in our groups on our presentations. In this Lab Activity, we will compile preliminary research data that will be the building blocks of our presentations. This activity involves reading the three texts (Nahuatl texts, Spanish translations, and images) on your topic against each other. The overarching goal of the presentation will be to read between the lines to shed light on the multiple voices and perspectives of Book 12 of the Florentine Codex.

The layout of a page of the Florentine Codex provides a visual clue about variations in the three texts. Nearly all of the images were placed in the Spanish column on the left side of the page. This indicates that the Nahuatl text in the column on the right was longer; the left column had space for images because Sahagún summarized, condensed, or omitted content in his Spanish translation of certain topics. On the example page provided here, two images fill the top of the left hand column and fourteen additional lines of Nahuatl text conclude Chapter 16 in the right column. The images as a third text depict the Spaniards seizing Moteucçoma (top) and holding him hostage in his own palace (bottom), as discussed in Chapter 17. The images, drawn by indigenous artists/writers (tlacuiloque), most closely correspond to the Nahuatl text. Note the detail of the Spaniards grabbing Moteuczoma's arm. The Nahua authors use the verb tzitziquia (seize, grab) to describe the action. They use the same verb to state that the Spaniards looted all of the precious goods from Moteuczoma's palace. The use of the same verb and its representation in the image suggests a link between the violation of the ruler's body and the ruler's palace, the unethical seizure of the ruler and his goods.


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Spanish Text (ca 1575) |
Nahuatl Text (ca 1545) |
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Spanish-English TranslationMoteucçoma was told how the Spaniards were bringing along with them a Mexica [Nahuatl-speaking] Indian woman called Marina, a citizen of the settlement of Teticpac, on the shore of the North Sea [Caribbean], who served as interpreter and said in the Mexican language everything that Captain don Hernando Cortés told to her. |
Nahuatl-English TranslationAnd it was told, presented, made known, announced, and reported to Moteucçoma, and brought to his attention, that a woman, once of us people here, came accompanying them as interpreter. Her name was Marina and her homeland was Tepeticpac, on the coast, where they first took her. |
CommentaryThe Spanish translation uses passive language to refer to Malintzin. Whereas the Nahuatl text states that Malintzin accompanied the Spaniards, the Spanish text says the Spaniards brought her along. She is reduced to Cortés mouthpiece, who just says what Cortés tells her. She is an "Indian," a term indigenous people never use to describe themselves. Note that Sahagún alters the name of Malintzin's birthplace and imposes a Spanish placename, "North Sea," to refer to the coastal region. |
CommentaryThe Nahuatl text places great emphasis on the importance of Malintzin by using six verbs to say that emissaries told Moteuczoma about her. They refer to her as "one of us people here" (nican tlaca) a term used to distinguish between indigenous people and Spaniards; they do not call her a Mexica as her home was in Tepeticpac. The Nahuatl text suggests that she may have been a war captive, who was "taken" by the Spaniards, not given to them as Spanish narratives claim. |

The image, drawn by an indigenous artist, most closely aligns with the Nahuatl alphabetic text. Malintzin is at the center of the image standing between indigenous emissaries (on left) and a seated Cortés (on right). Her hand gestures are parallel to those of Cortés, which conveys that she translates for him. Her forceful gestures convey the Spaniards insistence on going to Tenochtitlan and meeting Moteuczoma, a message that causes the Mexica ruler grave concern. The artist emphasizes her stature and importance by drawing her as the largest figure in the composition.
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Share your your Nahuatl quotes and its Spanish translation and/or image in this Lab Activity discussion forum. Note that this discussion is group based so you will only see your group members' posts. Post by 2/25, 2:00pm
This activity will be completed in class on 2/25.